Assembly Election highlights: PM Modi speaks in Assam, Rajnath Singh holds campaign in Kerala, and more

The Left Front on Wednesday announced it reached a seat-sharing arrangement with the ISF and CPI(ML) Liberation to contest the West Bengal Assembly elections.

As per the seat-sharing arrangement reached among these outfits, the ISF will contest 30 seats and CPI(ML) Liberation will field candidates in eight Assembly constituencies, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said in a statement.

He said the Left Front will field candidates in 252 of the 294 seats in the State, with the CPI(M) contesting 195 seats, All India Forward Bloc 23, CPI and RSP 16 each, and RCPI and Marxist Forward Bloc one each. 

The announcement follows extensive deliberations among the Left Front, ISF and CPI(ML) Liberation regarding seat sharing.

-PTI

The TMC on Wednesday alleged large-scale discrepancies in voter enrolment in West Bengal, claiming multiple instances of duplicate and fraudulent entries in the electoral rolls during the ongoing publication of supplementary lists.

In a representation to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the party flagged alleged irregularities in enumeration forms and Form 6 submissions, used for including names in the voter list.

Senior TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien told reporters that several residents of Bihar have been enrolled in West Bengal’s voter list despite reportedly having voted in the assembly polls in the neighbouring state last year.

“We have drawn the urgent intervention of the CEO, demanding that these anomalies be rectified immediately. We are appalled at the role of the Chief Election Commissioner, who has failed to reply to a single communication from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about multiple discrepancies and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision exercise of electoral rolls,” Mr. O’Brien said. 

-PTI

AIADMK chief Edapapdi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday condemned DMK top leader and Chief Minister MK Stalin for dubbing him a ‘Sanghi,’ and rejected it as a defamatory reference targeting him.

Addressing a mega election rally here, Mr. Palaniswami castigated Mr. Stalin for alleging the AIADMK had “bloodstains of those killed in protests opposing CAA”, and rejected that accusation.

Mr. Palaniswami showed an old, undated photograph of late leaders M. Karunanidhi and Murasoli Maran alongside the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and asked if the two late leaders --Karunanidhi and Maran-- were ‘Sanghi’ leaders. 

-PTI

Actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay is set to file his nomination papers for the Tiruchirappalli (East) assembly constituency on April 2, setting the stage for a high-profile electoral contest in central Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Vijay, who is contesting from two seats in the upcoming April 23 Assembly elections -- the other being Perambur in Chennai -- will submit his papers to Returning Officer Muthu Murugesa Pandiyan at the Ariyamangalam Zonal Office of the Trichy Corporation around 12.30 pm on April 2, said TVK officials.

Post-nomination, the TVK chief is scheduled to kick off his campaign in the city, Aadhav Arjuna General Secretary of Election Campaign Management, TVK, told reporters here on Wednesday, following a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer. 

-PTI

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday alleged that the ruling TMC and other parties used Muslims of West Bengal for votes but did nothing for the community’s development.

Mr. Owaisi, while addressing a poll rally at Naoda in Murshidabad district in support of candidates of Humayun Kabir-led Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), also claimed that in the past 50 years, members of the Muslim community had voted for the Congress, Left Front and the TMC, but their condition did not improve. 

“For the sake of Muslims in West Bengal getting greater representation in political decision-making, and for their true development, we have joined hands with Kabir. Together, we will give a jolt to Mamata Banerjee and her party,” he asserted.

“The time has come to elect leaders from the Muslim community, who can ensure your economic development,” Mr. Owaisi said.

“Muslims form about 30% of the population here. But how many Muslims are in state government jobs? Around seven per cent. The time has come to stop the exploitation of Muslims. To ensure that, elect leaders from yourselves who can only ensure our economic development while following the secular, inclusive spirit of India which is being violated by both BJP and TMC,” he told a large gathering. 

-PTI

The DMK officially launched its campaign anthem, ‘Stalin Thodarattum, Tamil Nadu Vellattum’ (Let Stalin Continue, Let Tamil Nadu Win) on Wednesday, ahead of the April 23 Assembly elections.

Released by the party’s IT wing, the high-energy track serves as a digital spearhead for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s re-election bid.

The song highlights the “Dravidian Model” of governance, focusing on grassroots mobilisation and flagship welfare schemes. It heavily features the party’s recent “superstar manifesto” promises, including the ₹8,000 appliance coupon for homemakers. The anthem, aimed at energising cadres, is quickly gaining traction on social media. 

-PTI

Unlike AIADMK’s Palaniswami, my experience is not to be cowed down to intimidation, says Deputy CM Udhayanidhi during a poll campaign in Ambur. I stand up with dignity, and I don’t have experience of visiting Delhi, and changing cars he adds. 

“DMK always stood with minorities. The party is their guardian,” Mr. Stalin said on Wednesday. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, using a popular Malayalam film dialogue during a UDF campaign roadshow in Nemom constituency ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.

Addressing party workers, Mr. Reddy invoked the famous line “Nee po mone Dinesha” from the Mohanlal-starrer Malayalam blockbuster “ Narasimham”, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. 

Adapting the dialogue to target Vijayan, he said “Nee po mone Vijaya”, and alleged that the Chief Minister’s “time is over”, and his “expiry date has passed”.

“Your time is over. Your expiry date is over. You don’t have any time to continue. Now, the UDF’s time has come,” Mr. Reddy said during the roadshow.

-PTI

Violence broke out at the West Bengal Pradesh Congress headquarters here on Wednesday during protests over candidate selection for the Assembly elections, leaving at least one party worker injured, police said.

It all started after agitated party workers staged a demonstration demanding the cancellation of “outsider” candidates, which soon escalated into clashes between rival factions.

Their main grievance centred around the nomination of Rohan Mitra, son of former party president Somen Mitra, from Ballygunge Assembly constituency. The protestors claimed that Zayed Hossain had earlier been assured the ticket for the seat, but was later denied.

The agitating workers also alleged that the state Congress leadership had “sold tickets” for the Assembly elections, even as posters carrying the charge were put up at the party headquarters. 

-PTI

Speaking during a poll campaign in Kerala, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday says LDF and UDF have been betraying the people of Kerala. 

Speaking in Paravur, Mr. Singh says both LDF and UDF have divided society and ‘destroyed’ Kerala’s economy while not not fulfilling their promises. “LDF and UDF are the same in corruption and appeasement,” the Defence Minister alleges. 

“A family member of Kerala CM is accused of ‘money laundering’ in a case connected with CMRL. God is not secure in God’s own country because the LDF betrayed Lord Ayyappa for a few pieces of gold,” he adds. 

A sense of commotion prevailed at the election office in the Erode (East) Assembly constituency as more than 100 persons turned up simultaneously to purchase nomination forms.

The crowd, comprising members of the Sengunthar Mudaliar community, gathered under the banner of the Sengunthar Mudaliar Association. They said that all of them were planning to file nominations in the constituency. - The Hindu Bureau

A total of 611 complaints were received at the district control centre and 28 through cVigil app since the Model Code of Conduct came into force in Cuddalore district. All the complaints received till date had been acted upon and resolved.

According to officials, complaints received at the district-level control room functioning from the Collectorate are immediately forwarded to flying squads and static surveillance teams in the respective Assembly constituencies. - The Hindu Bureau

Kolkata: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress and other parties used Muslims for votes in West Bengal, but did nothing for the community’s development.

Mr. Owaisi, addressing a poll rally at Naowda in support of candidates of Humayun Kabir-led AJUP, also claimed that in the past 50 years, members of the Muslim community had voted for the Congress, Left Front and the TMC, but their condition did not improve.

“For the sake of Muslims in West Bengal getting greater representation in political decision making, and for their true development, we have joined hands with Kabir. Together, we will give a jolt to Mamata Banerjee and her party,” he asserted. “The time has come to elect leaders from the Muslim community, who can ensure your economic development,” Mr. Owaisi said. - PTI

Kannur: BJP national president Nitin Nabin held a roadshow in the Mattannur Assembly constituency, expressing confidence that the party will secure a strong mandate in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Nitin Nabin said, “This time BJP will get a very good response from the public of Keralam. From 2% to 20% under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we are very confident that this time Lotus will give a clear-cut mandate for the State Assembly election.”

The BJP chief highlighted that the party aims to provide an alternative to the existing LDF and UDF governments, focussing on development, employment for youth, and welfare programmes. 

“The way the LDF and the UDF have been playing a match-fixing game with the public, we will expose them. Both have ruled for 70 years and have focussed only on their families, not the people. This time, the BJP will provide a genuine alternative government. We will work for the welfare of the people, development, infrastructure, growth, and employment for the youth.” - ANI

Thiruvananthapuram: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that voting for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) or Pinarayi Vijayan would ultimately benefit PM Narendra Modi in Delhi.

While campaigning for UDF candidate K.S. Sabarinadhan in Nemom Assembly constituency, he urged voters to choose the United Democratic Front (UDF) to ensure the State’s development, industrial growth, and job creation.

“If UDF wins in Keralam, the government is going to employ welfare and development... Now, the people must decide who is going to develop the State, industries and get investments from other States to Keralam... I am here to support Keralam,” he said. - ANI

Guwahati: Congress leader Pawan Khera, reacting to the BJP’s poll promise to implement a Uniform Civil Code in Assam, alleged that the ruling party was attempting to divert public attention from key governance issues.

The Congress leader accused the BJP of engaging in polarisation tactics ahead of elections. “They will try to raise such issues so that the voters’ attention gets diverted from the real lies of the BJP government, and they get misled. Let them try to polarise. The people of Assam will never get polarised,” he said.

Mr. Khera also claimed that such promises are aimed at deflecting scrutiny from the government’s performance. “They are just trying to raise wrong issues so that there is no talk about their own shortcomings, their own corruption, and their own misdeeds,” he added. - ANI

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged that newly appointed officials by the Election Commission were entrusted to reject nominations of her party candidates and urged them to be cautious while filing their nominations.

Addressing a poll rally at Nanoor in Birbhum district of West Bengal, Ms. Banerjee also lashed out at the BJP for allegedly misusing Central agencies for its political benefit.

“Everything has been changed; it’s a new setup here. The newly appointed officers by the EC are entrusted to reject your nomination; so be cautious while filing your nominations,” Ms. Banerjee said at the rally. The Chief Minister also urged people, especially women, not to vote for the BJP.

“They (BJP) are anti-women, that’s why their names are being deleted in SIR citing logical discrepancy,” she said. - PTI

Tirupattur: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) said the BJP’s “conspiracies” will be defeated and the T.N. team will ensure a win in the April 23 election.

Campaigning for the party candidates in Natrampalli and Vaniyambadi in the Tirupattur district, he said the BJP was aware that it cannot win at the hustings and so was planning to make an entry through the polls.

“We will defeat the conspiracies of the BJP which wants to rule Tamil Nadu from Delhi with old and new slaves, in the 2026 Assembly elections. Let us work tirelessly and ensure that the Tamil Nadu team wins and usher in the Dravidian model 2.0. regime,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said and exuded confidence that the DMK-led alliance will win.

- PTI

Gogamukh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Congress, if it comes to power in Assam, will bring in a law to protect infiltrators, which the BJP and its allies will not allow.

Addressing a poll rally at Gogamukh in Dhemaji district, Modi said the Congress’ aim is to “turn the majority community into a minority and create a permanent vote bank of infiltrators’’.

“Congress leaders are openly saying that they will bring in a new law in Assam to protect infiltrators and are openly supporting them,” the PM alleged. He also accused the grand old party of “trying to divide the country as the Muslim League did during Partition”.

“The Congress have also stabbed the Constitution prepared by Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Mr. Modi said. The Prime Minister said if the BJP returns to power, it will “implement the Uniform Civil Code and safeguard tribals under the Sixth schedule to protect Assam’s identity”. - PTI

Gogamukh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the development of Assam under the BJP regime and described the previous ten years as an “era of service and good governance.” 

Addressing a public rally in Assam’s Gogamukh, the Prime Minister expressed confidence of achieving “hattrick” of victory in State. Meanwhile, in an indirect jibe at LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, he stressed that the upcoming election will mark “century of defeats for Congress’ self-proclaimed prince.”

“Under the leadership of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal first, and then under the guidance of Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam has witnessed a new era of service and good governance in the past 10 years. These Assam elections are the election to build a developed Assam for a developed India. This time, a hat-trick for the BJP-NDA government is certain. And a hat-trick of defeat for Congress is also certain. And a century of defeat for Congress’s self-proclaimed prince is also on the cards,” said PM Modi. - ANI

Jolarpettai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin appealed to the people to decimate the Opposition AIADMK in the ensuing Assembly election and also ensure that its ally the BJP doesn’t win at the hustings.

Stating that the “fascist BJP” does not have the people’s sanction to enter Tamil Nadu, he said the saffron party cannot win at the hustings. Campaigning for the DMK at Jolarpettai, about 215 km from Chennai, the party’s youth wing secretary urged the people to render a total rout to AIADMK in the State.

He said the DMK was able to approach the people as it has kept up its promises made in the 2021 Assembly election and is confident of delivering more when the party gets a second successive term. - PTI

Teams involved in the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct for the April 9 Assembly elections in Puducherry have apprehended five persons and seized from their possession around ₹ 66,000 during surveillance using drone technology for checking the misuse of money power in polls in the Union Territory. 

Flying squad members deployed at Mannadipet constituency apprehended three persons, Thirumaran, Silambarasan, Chakravarthy and seized from their possession ₹ 55,000. Another team deployed at Mangalam constituency took into custody P. Rajendran and P. Suresh and seized from their possession around ₹ 11,000. The accused and seized amount have been handed over to the concerned police stations for further proceeding with the case, Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar said in a release. - The Hindu Bureau

Tiruchirappalli: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M.K. Stalin, who is contesting the upcoming Assembly elections from the Kolathur constituency, held a major election campaign in Tiruchirappalli district on Wednesday (April 1, 2026), addressing a large public gathering and introducing party candidates for the nine Assembly segments in the district.

He said, “There are no caste clashes in Tamil Nadu, no communal riots like in BJP-ruled States, no mob violence like in Uttar Pradesh, and no continuous unrest like in Manipur. We have also thwarted the conspiracies of the BJP to create such situations here. It is because of the peaceful environment and effective governance under our rule that investments are steadily flowing into Tamil Nadu. We have released a detailed action plan and election manifesto to support this. All the announcements I have made will be fulfilled in the coming days.”

CM Stalin also claimed, “Tamil Nadu has no caste or communal violence like other States. We ensured peace, which is why investments are coming. We have released our plans, and all promises will be fulfilled soon.” - ANI

Siliguri: BJP Siliguri MLA and candidate Dr. Sankar Ghosh strongly refuted West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s claim that people would be restricted from consuming fish, meat, or eggs if the BJP comes to power, asserting that such statements are misleading and against cultural realities.

Responding to Ms. Banerjee’s remarks, Mr. Ghosh said, “Didi, I appeal to you to come to my house, we will have fish together. You will also enjoy it. But these false statements being made... saying fish is not eaten... this is not right.” He further emphasised that food habits are deeply rooted in culture and cannot be dictated by any political party. 

“People from Bengal and Bihar will eat fish and meat - this cannot be controlled by any political party because it is part of our culture. Ignoring culture in this way and spreading false statements to create fear among people is wrong,” he said. - ANI

Tiruvarur: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched his campaign for the April 23 Assembly polls and slammed AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami as a leader with no long-term vision or understanding about anything. He dubbed the NDA as “anti-Tamil and opportunistic alliance”.

Formally introducing candidates of his party and that of allies from Tiruvarur region and seeking support for them, the DMK chief claimed there were many examples to show the intellectual capability of the Leader of Opposition Palaniswami. He claimed that that the former CM lacks understanding about anything and has no foresight or long-term vision and he is demonstrating it.

CM Stalin said NDA has only one objective and it is to hinder Tamil Nadu’s development and it aims at “destroying” the development brought about by the Dravidian model. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address two public meetings in Assam on Wednesday (April 1) as part of the BJP’s ongoing Assembly election campaign.

According to the itinerary, Mr. Modi will first address a rally at Gogamukh in Dhemaji around 11 a.m. before proceeding to Biswanath district, where he is expected to speak at a public meeting at 1 p.m.

Senior BJP leaders and state ministers are likely to be present at both venues, party sources said.

-PTI

The decline of the coal economy, illegal mining, and identity politics are expected to shape the electoral battle in Asansol Dakshin, one of the most closely watched assembly constituencies in the 2026 West Bengal polls.

Part of the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in Paschim Bardhaman district, the urban-industrial seat located in the Raniganj coal belt reflects the structural transition of eastern India’s old mining towns, where industrial slowdown, informal coal networks and demographic shifts are influencing political narratives.

The BJP, which wrested the seat from the TMC in 2021, is attempting to retain it through a mix of Hindutva mobilisation and governance issues linked to the coal economy.

The ruling TMC is seeking to regain lost ground by rebuilding its traditional Bengali-minority support base and highlighting the various social welfare schemes of the state government.

-PTI

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday (March 31) condemned the attack on Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers outside the Election Commissioner’s office by Trinamool Congress (TMC) party workers, calling TMC “the face of violence.”

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Mazumdar emphasised the need for a strict law and order situation in view of the Assembly elections.

“The TMC’s desperation is growing day by day. Today, our workers were standing before the Election Commission. They were attacked by TMC goons. This is the true face of the Trinamool Congress, the face of violence. Therefore, to ensure the elections are free and fair, strict restrictions and rigorous enforcement of law and order are essential. Otherwise, it will be impossible for the Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections here,” he said.

-ANI

Ahead of the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly polls, Residents of Narayangarh, West Bengal, under the Paschim Medinipur district, have raised concerns about alleged lack of infrastructure, including all-weather roads, clean drinking water, and functional healthcare facilities and neglect from the authorities.

A resident Bhim Debnath stated that easy accces of drinking water, well-built homes are not available in the area. “There is a severe drinking water crisis here. We have to travel 12km just to fetch water... Our homes are made of mud... We lack proper roads. There isn’t even a hospital nearby...Our MLA hasn’t come to meet us. We want change,” he said.

Another resident, Raipada Devrat, also flagged issues in the healthcare system. “There is no hospital. We have to travel far to Kharagpur or Midnapore, where doctors charge Rs 200-500, but we are poor... The roads are in poor condition. We don’t even have proper housing,” he said.

-ANI

At Mudikkarai, a small junction about six km from Perumbavoor town, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Manoj Moothedan addressed a small crowd of mostly his supporters around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The choice of location to start his road show seemed strategic.

“I am happy to launch my campaign from here. I have a lot of friends and relatives at Mudikkarai. But more than that, I am all the more happy to stand on this very road, which was one of the earliest projects I worked on when I was a district panchayat member,” Mr. Moothedan said, going on to list a set of projects he claimed to have initiated in and around Kuruppampady junction.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Anoop Antony from the Thiruvalla constituency for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections on Tuesday (March 31) expressed confidence in the party’s growth and prospects.

“BJP in Kerala mhas always grown... In 2011, we were less than 10%; today, we have reached 20%. BJP is the only party which has grown in the last 10 years. In these elections, the BJP is expecting a huge victory, just like the last Lok Sabha elections and the recent Trivandrum Municipal Corporation elections. This election is going to be a landmark for Kerala’s politics... People have been fed up with both the UDF and the LDF... They are looking for a change,” he said, while talking to ANI.

He filed his nomination papers for the Thiruvalla Assembly constituency at the Sub-Collector’s office on March 21, ahead of the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections.

-ANI

With several prominent legislators accused of sexual violence contesting and campaigning in the upcoming polls, questions are being raised about the seriousness with which political parties approach the issue, according to women leaders. Critics argue that women’s issues are reduced to political tools and rather than being treated as a serious policy priority, concerns about their safety are often weaponised for smear campaigns and selectively amplified during elections.

Recently a wave of sexual assault allegations were raised against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil. The Congress had suspended the MLA from its primary membership following the allegations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the most crorepati candidates — 88% of the 90 fielded — for the April 9 Assam Assembly polls, but none of them is among the wealthiest top five, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Assam Election Watch has revealed.

The report was prepared after analysing the criminal background, financial, education, gender, and other details of 722 candidates, 258 of whom are contesting independently.

BJP’s election in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay had no understanding of the people of Tamil Nadu, their culture, and politics.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, Mr. Goyal said many film stars had come [into politics] in the past and the people of Tamil Nadu had rejected them. “MGR [M.G. Ramachandran] and Jayalalithaa ji were experienced politicians, and after many years of serving the people, they became Chief Ministers. I think he [Mr. Vijay] is living in a dream. He is very popular among his fans. But that popularity will not result in votes, as we saw in the case of Vijayakant and Kamal Haasan.”

Congress MP K. Suresh on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) strongly opposed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, terming it anti-democratic and anti-constitutional, while asserting that it adversely affects minority organisations engaged in social welfare activities.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “We are going to oppose the FCRA Amendment Bill. It is totally against the minority community. So, the minority organisations take financial assistance from various agencies abroad. They are utilising that money for the welfare of the marginalised people and also for hospitals, schools, and orphanages. If this Bill is passed, their help will be stopped. That is why the minority organisations oppose this Bill. Opposition parties are also against this Bill. So, the FCRA Bill is anti-democratic and also anti-constitutional. So, this will be taken up today in the House. We will oppose it tooth and nail.”

-ANI

An Asian Games gold medal-winning athlete and a former first-class cricketer who represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy are the Trinamool Congress candidates taking on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominees in north Bengal.

Swapna Barman, the first Indian heptathlete to win an Asian Games gold in 2018 is the Trinamool candidate from Rajganj Assembly seat in the State’s Jalpaiguri district. On Monday, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities formally accepted her resignation and issued her a clearance letter to contest the West Bengal polls.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday clarified that he intended to engage in a Facebook debate with the Leader of the Opposition, V.D Satheesan, rather than a face-to-face discussion as suggested by sections of the media. Mr Vijayan’s statement signalled an anticlimactic end to speculation that a US presidential-style debate between Mr. Vijayan and Mr. Satheesan was imminent. 

Mr Vijayan’s Facebook post on Monday, in which that he was ready for a debate, had led the media to hypothesise that a televised, head-to-head encounter between the two leaders would be a key highlight of the Assembly election campaign. However, Mr. Vijayan had listed his government’s achievements in a report card format and did not challenge any person or party by name. 

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will campaign in Coimbatore on April 2 for candidates contesting in the seven Assembly constituencies in the district, said V. Senthilbalaji, the DMK candidate for Coimbatore South.

Launching his campaign on Tuesday evening, he said he was familiar with Coimbatore as he had implemented several schemes of the government here in the last four years. “People have faith in the Chief Minister and the government. The AIADMK won seats in Coimbatore in 2021 with narrow margins. We only had to set it right. We did that for the local body elections and Parliamentary election and will win in the Assembly elections too,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly election 2026 manifesto released by the State unit of the Communist Party of India in Chennai on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of threatening political parties and forcing alliances ahead of the polls.

M. Veerapandian, State secretary of the party, who released the manifesto, said that even though the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was reiterating that a government would be formed under its leadership, the BJP was asserting that the NDA would form the government. “The AIADMK has given up all its ideological moorings and merged itself with the BJP,” he alleged.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) released its manifesto for the April 9 Assam Assembly elections, promising to work towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code, protecting the land, heritage, and dignity of indigenous people, and pushing its development agenda.

Releasing the 31-point “Sankalp Patra” at the party’s State headquarters in Guwahati, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted what she described as Assam’s transformative change over the last 10 years, which, she said, had fuelled economic growth of the State and the rest of the northeastern region.